Molecular markers for malaria genetic epidemiology: progress and pitfalls

Shazia Ruybal-Pesántez; Kirsty McCann; Jessy Vibin; Sasha Siegel; Sarah Auburn; Alyssa E Barry

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2023.11.006

Molecular markers for malaria genetic epidemiology: progress and pitfalls

Trends Parasitol. 2024 Feb;40(2):147-163. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.11.006. Epub 2023 Dec 20.

Authors

Shazia Ruybal-Pesántez¹, Kirsty McCann², Jessy Vibin², Sasha Siegel³, Sarah Auburn⁴, Alyssa E Barry⁵

Affiliations

¹ MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, UK; Institute of Microbiology, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador.
² Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Innovation in Infectious Disease and Immunology Research (CIIDIR), Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
³ Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.
⁴ Menzies School of Health Research and Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia; Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
⁵ Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Innovation in Infectious Disease and Immunology Research (CIIDIR), Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT) and School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 38129280
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.11.006

Abstract

Over recent years, progress in molecular markers for genotyping malaria parasites has enabled informative studies of epidemiology and transmission dynamics. Results have highlighted the value of these tools for surveillance to support malaria control and elimination strategies. There are many different types and panels of markers available for malaria parasite genotyping, and for end users, the nuances of these markers with respect to 'use case', resolution, and accuracy, are not well defined. This review clarifies issues surrounding different molecular markers and their application to malaria control and elimination. We describe available marker panels, use cases, implications for different transmission settings, limitations, access, cost, and data accuracy. The information provided can be used as a guide for molecular epidemiology and surveillance of malaria.

Keywords: SNPs; antigen genes; genotyping; malaria molecular surveillance; microsatellites; molecular markers.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Biomarkers
Humans
Malaria* / epidemiology
Malaria, Falciparum* / parasitology
Molecular Epidemiology

Substances

Biomarkers